STAND. COM. REP. NO.  866

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 904

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 904, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to create a mechanism for the rapid response to invasive species threats by:

     (1)  Establishing the Invasive Species Rapid Response Special Fund (Fund) for use by the Invasive Species Council;

     (2)  Establishing procedures for declaration of an invasive species emergency, which shall trigger Council authorization to take action and make Fund expenditures without legislative approval; and

     (3)  Appropriating monies into the Fund.

The Councilmember from the Third District of the County of Hawaii, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Conservation Council for Hawaii, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Little Fire Ant HUI, and many individuals supported this measure.  One individual opposed this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Department of Budget and Finance, State Procurement Office, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Hawaii Cat Foundation, and two individuals provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 904, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair